A moment of silence enveloped the group, everyone frozen in place, their expressions filled with fear as they looked toward the source of the roar. Ronan's expression grew serious as he gripped the hilt of his sword beneath his robe, pushing through the crowd to the front.
Before he could reach the front, the bushes ahead shook violently, and two figures tumbled out, scrambling on their hands and knees.
These were two more wizards fleeing for their lives, their robes tattered and covered in dirt.
Seeing the large group before them, they hesitated, faces lighting up with joy, only to be replaced by panic as they pointed behind them, shouting, "A beast! Run!"
Before the echoes of their warning faded, a nauseating stench of decay wafted over them.
The sound of branches snapping underfoot accompanied a gust of wind as a terrifying creature the size of a bull appeared before them.
It was a reptilian creature with brownish-red skin covered in scales, and its back bristled with dagger-like black spines.
Its long, flicking tongue and overall appearance resembled a giant lizard.
As its pale golden eyes swept over Ronan, he felt as if it was a stare exchanged between equals.
This suggested that beneath its cold, bloodthirsty nature, the creature might possess intelligence not unlike a human's.
"Careful!"
Old Wills, suddenly beside Ronan, leaned on his cane, speaking with urgency, "It's a two-headed demon lizard!"
"Why does it have only one head?"
"When it grows its second head, it becomes a first-rank magical beast, something only a formal wizard can handle..."
Ronan exhaled softly, focusing on the demon lizard before him.
In truth, facing this legendary beast, Ronan wasn't as tense as he imagined he'd be.
His instincts weren't issuing strong danger signals, indicating that the one-headed demon lizard wasn't overwhelmingly powerful. The discomfort came more from its grotesque appearance and the overpowering stench.
"Hmm—"
Without hesitation, Ronan chanted, his mental energy resonating like plucked strings, gathering free energy particles under his control.
A large blue-black energy orb materialized, and with a gesture, Ronan sent it hurtling toward the demon lizard.
"Boom!"
A thunderous explosion shook the ground beneath them.
Those who had seen Ronan in action before were unfazed, but the other wizards, witnessing his power for the first time, were shocked, stumbling back as their perception of him shifted dramatically.
While they were all low-level wizards, they had seen intermediate apprentices cast spells before.
But did zero-level intermediate spells pack such a punch?
More importantly, how was his casting speed so fast?!
Many gaped at the crater left by the blast, swallowing hard in disbelief and awe.
"Damn!"
Ronan cursed under his breath.
His spell had missed!
As soon as he cast it, he sensed the demon lizard's disappearance.
It was too fast; Ronan's mental energy only caught a fleeting shadow before losing its trace.
This was Ronan's first time missing with an [Energy Missile]!
"...Eye of Truth"
Ronan quickly chanted, casting the practiced [Detection] spell, a faint white glow covering his lake-blue eyes.
His muscles tensed as he scanned for the demon lizard's whereabouts.
It seemed the [Energy Missile]'s power had increased again, nearly draining a quarter of his mental energy with that one shot.
A good sign... and a bad one.
Ronan felt closer to breaking through to a level beyond expert mastery with [Energy Missile], but if the next three shots didn't resolve the battle...
He might have to make a run for it.
"Found it!"
The [Detection] spell swiftly picked up traces of residual energy particles in the air, the magical beast's natural energy affinity making it stand out.
"Hmm—"
Ronan fired another [Energy Missile] at a clump of bushes.
This time, he employed a small trick, looking in another direction and deliberately mispointing his finger while casting.
"Boom!"
"Roar~—"
The tactic worked.
The second [Energy Missile] struck the lurking demon lizard, and amid the explosion came a pained roar.
And then, the demon lizard fled!
"Smart creature... knows when to retreat."
Ronan approached the second blast site, observing the bloody severed tail left behind and a trail of blood leading away.
His heart still raced, adrenaline from the quick battle lingering.
The fight had ended as swiftly as it started, catching Ronan off guard.
Returning with the demon lizard's half-tail, Ronan was met with a sea of awestruck gazes.
Those who had been contemplating slipping away now abandoned the thought after witnessing Ronan's formidable strength.
Fear was one reason, but many also saw an opportunity to align themselves with a powerful apprentice wizard, hoping to gain favor or protection.
Particularly given Ronan's youthful appearance, some were eager to assist him, offering to carry his things.
Ronan's mood lightened—who didn't enjoy respect and admiration, especially at his age?
As he moved to toss the demon lizard's tail to an especially eager apprentice, a sudden, intense sensation of danger surged from behind, as if a beast leapt at him, sinking its teeth into his heart.
"!"
Time seemed to slow as Ronan instinctively bent backward.
His rigorous training in [Ascetic Body Training] paid off, allowing him to contort his body in a seemingly impossible arch, relying solely on his feet to remain upright.
In the next moment, a dense shadow fell over his face.
In his wide-open eyes appeared a massive, decaying black blade, slicing silently past his nose.
The apprentice wizard, reaching to take Ronan's offering, was cleaved in two by the blade.
In the shadow's embrace, his body separated at the waist, blood gushing as his face remained locked in a friendly smile...
"Boom!"
Ronan hit the ground, rolling swiftly to the side like a floundering fish.
When he steadied himself, his expression grave, he saw a two-meter-tall skeleton standing in the distance.
It was shrouded in tendrils of black mist, clad in tattered, decaying armor, wielding a rusty long blade and shield.
Its hollow eye sockets burned with green fire, fixated on Ronan.
A soft "tsk" came from behind the skeleton.
A figure in a black robe stepped out.
It was a plain-looking, short-haired man, his pale skin marked with crimson tattoos.
He regarded Ronan with a surprised expression, smiling like a corpse freshly risen from the grave.
"Unbelievable that you survived."